Falcons no match for Packers' tradition

ATLANTA - Bart Starr. Lambeau Field. Ray Nitschke. Titletown USA. Reggie White. Heck, they even named the Super Bowl trophy after Green Bay's most famous coach, Vince Lombardi.

Yep, the Packers are just oozing with tradition. The Atlanta Falcons? Not so much.

"We're fairly new on the block," said Roddy White, the Falcons' Pro Bowl receiver. "We're still trying to prove ourselves.''

The Falcons (13-3) are the top seed in the NFC playoffs heading into Saturday night's divisional game against Green Bay (11-6). Atlanta merely needs to win two more games - both at the Georgia Dome, where the team is 20-4 the last three seasons - to reach the Super Bowl for only the second time in franchise history.

Up first, Atlanta will have to get by a franchise with a much more impressive resume over the long haul.

The Packers have won a record 12 NFL titles, a bounty that includes three Super Bowl victories.

Compare that with the Falcons, who have managed just four division titles in 45 years and lost their lone Super Bowl appearance in 1999.

When it comes to star power, Green Bay is about as good as it gets. The franchise boasts 21 members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame. No one has considered naming a trophy after anyone from the Falcons.

"None of that matters," Falcons safety William Moore said. "When those lights come on, those players from the past ain't playing that night.'' - AP